RE Curriculum Guide

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TAPESTRY OF FAITH

Embodying a faith development focus for our congregations, Tapestry of Faith is a series of programs and resources for all ages that nurture Unitarian Universalist identity, spiritual growth, a transforming faith, and vital communities of justice and love.

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has created the first ever online lifespan curriculum for our congregations. Each program includes stories, activities, worship and social action ideas to nurture people in ethics, spirit, and faith. Every session features Taking It Home and Find Out More sections for families to explore at home. And parents can go online and read the curriculum that their children are experiencing in their congregation each week.

World of Wonder:Founded on the premise that direct experience in nature is essential to children's physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development, this program delves deep into our Unitarian Universalist seventh Principle. It instills respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part and appreciation of its beauty, excitement and mystery.

Program Goals:

Nurture a sense of wonder and respect for the interdependent web of all existence

Engage children in direct experiences with the web, especially outdoors

Promote a deep understanding of the concept of interdependence

Teach basic environmental concepts and processes

Provide meaningful ways in which children can positively impact and promote the health of the interdependent web.

Signs of Our Faith: Being UU Every Day: Our UUA President, Rev. Morales, asks us to think about religion as the practice of being faithful to what you love. In order to do this, you must decide what you love and do your best to live that love faithfully every day. Signs of Our Faith guides children to do their best to live faithful lives every day. It presents fourteen traits or values that most Unitarian Universalist love, including the quest for knowledge, reverence for life, supporting one another on our faith journeys, and public witness. Children examine how their lives do and can exhibit these traits and values, and come to understand that their faith is a living faith whose histories and teachings are fortifications for living faithfully in a complex world.

Program Goals:

Explore kinds of power that can be used to create positive change

Enrich Unitarian Universalist identity with stories of people who used their power for the sake of "justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love"

Develop participants' sense of themselves as leaders

Promote exercising one's own powers to create positive change, even in very small ways

Build community, with an emphasis on the power of religious community to change the world for the better.

The Fifth Dimension - a curriculum based on Unitarian Universalist Rod Serling's series, "The Twilight Zone". Competing for a youth’s attention can be difficult today. Widespread television viewing, video game playing, and internet surfing has created an environment where youth need visual stimulation to maintain interest. Pop culture can help to channel this environment into a learning opportunity, allowing youth to examine ethical and theological issues, while having fun. In addition, pop culture can help youth to discuss important social issues with peers. Talking about social issues with peers can be daunting, particularly if the youth lives and goes to school in a conservative atmosphere and knows that his/her viewpoint is not necessarily shared by the majority of his/her peers. Referencing a television show, a movie, a song, or a website can help youth express their opinions to others.

Program Goals:

Consider social issues and the ways in which our faith can help us understand our values.

Understand ways in which the right of conscience calls us to do what’s right, even if there are possible negative consequences.

Examine how our choices affect others around us, as well as ourselves.

Explore how taking a stand is related to perspective and point of view.

Young people meet and discuss topics ranging from current issues in Unitarian Universalism and other religions, to their spirituality. The Youth Group, which meets on Sundays, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., shares a meal, has a youth worship and business meeting. They plan activities and social action projects within our Fellowship as well as in the community. Many youth also attend CONs (youth conferences) to spend time with other Unitarian Universalist Youth.

Program Goals:

Encourage participants to see themselves as belonging to a Unitarian Universalist community and being integral to the covenantal community’s wholeness

Encourage social justice activities so that participants will see that they can give back to their community and make a difference

Help participants recognize that they are inheritors of a Unitarian Universalist theological history as well as co-creators in the future of our living tradition

Creatively employ technology to facilitate learning and community building

Inspire youth to become young adults who are kind, respectful, fair-minded, caring and strong enough to stand up for what is right

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UUCONNECT is a Long Island wide group of Unitarian Universalist families. Events are planned monthly throughout Long Island. In the past, these events have included: an apple-picking afternoon, a skating party, a Talent Show and Pasta Night, Picnics at Jones Beach and Eisenhower Park and an annual trip to New York City. Parents are required to attend with younger children. Senior High youth may attend on their own with parental permission. It is an excellent opportunity for our children and youth to meet other Unitarian Universalists.